Jaso pinch-hit HR lifts A’s over Angels

GOOD IN A PINCH:John Jaso hit a two-run homer for the 3-2 win, while the Cardinals snapped the Brewers’ nine-game winning streak with a commanding 4-0 win

AP, ANAHEIM, California

Oakland Athletics pinch hitter John Jaso, right, hits a two-run homer in the ninth inning to give the A’s a 3-2 win against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in Anaheim, California, on Monday.

Photo: AFP

MAJOR LEAGUES

Pinch-hitter John Jaso came through with a two-run homer off closer Ernesto Frieri in the ninth inning, sending the Oakland Athletics to a 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Monday.

Yoenis Cespedes also went deep for the A’s, offsetting Albert Pujols’ 496th home run.

Frieri (0-1) was trying to preserve a 2-1 lead for starter Hector Santiago when Josh Donaldson led off the ninth with a single. One out later, Jaso drove a 1-2 pitch deep into the right-field seats for his first homer of the season and the first by an A’s pinch-hitter.

Jaso has six homers and 21 RBIs at Angel Stadium, along with a .424 average, the highest by any player with at least 75 plate appearances at the “Big A.” ]

Also in the American League, Mike Zunino homered an inning before adding an RBI single in the Seattle Mariners’ 7-1 win over the Texas Rangers.

In the National League, the Milwaukee Brewers’ nine-game winning streak was ended when Lance Lynn struck out 11 batters in seven innings and Jon Jay hit a three-run homer for the St Louis Cardinals in a 4-0 victory.

Lynn allowed three hits over seven innings before Carlos Martinez finished off the surprising Brewers, who still have the majors’ best record at 10-3. Lynn (3-0) frustrated hitters by mixing a fastball that topped 153kph with a slider.

Jhonny Peralta hit a solo shot in the second off Brewers starter Matt Garza (0-2) before Jay sent a ball over the wall near the right field corner in the sixth.

In Philadelphia, Dan Uggla hit two home runs, including a grand slam in the ninth inning that lifted the Atlanta Braves to a wild 9-6 win over the Philadelphia Phillies.

Evan Gattis also homered twice, while Uggla drove in five runs as the Braves won their fourth straight. The teams combined for five homers and 12 runs in the final two innings.